London's state schools achieve best GCSE results in the country

70.3 per cent of pupils in London achieved five A*-C grades in any GCSE

London's state schools are the best in the country for GCSE results after a decade of improvements, figures showed today.

A higher proportion of the secondary school pupils in the capital achieved five A*-C grades, including English and maths, than anywhere else in England this year.

Ministers hailed the results as proof that Labour's £200million investment in London's education system has paid off. But critics warned that children in the poorest boroughs still trailed far behind pupils in wealthier areas.

Headteachers said London's schools "should take great pride" in the turn-around in results. John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "This represents an outstanding achievement on the part of London schools."

The first official breakdown of this year's GCSE results showed:

70.3 per cent of pupils in London achieved five A*-C grades in any GCSE - up from 42.1 per cent 11 years ago.

53.3 per cent of London teenagers got five A*-C grades in subjects including English and maths, seen as the minimum requirement for many jobs. In 1998 the figure was 32.4 per cent.

This was higher than the average for England, 50.4 per cent, and higher than anywhere apart from the south-east, which scored the same as London.

Nine out of the 10 most improved local authorities in England since 1998 were in London.

The Government's London Challenge initiative has sent schools advisers specialising in techniques to improve discipline and provided extra help for children who do not speak English at home, anti-bullying measures and catch-up classes in English and maths.

Private companies and church groups have been enlisted to turn failing schools into improving city academies.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker congratulated teachers. "London is showing sustained, above average improvement rates. It is a turnaround to be proud of," he said.

But the figures masked a divide between wealthier and poorer areas. Inner London boroughs lagged behind the national GCSE average, while outer London schools soared ahead.